Minister for Children and Youth
Affairs Frances Fitzgerald is calling on parents, teachers and youth workers to
help her in the campaign to delete cyber bullying. As part of her ongoing
efforts to address this issue, Fitzgerald is running events in Lucan and
Clondalkin with experts from the leading social media site Facebook to inform
and equip parents and teens in the battle against cyber bullying.

Events will take place next Tuesday
(5th March) in Lucan’s St Joseph’s College and Thursday (7th March) in Clondalkin’s Moyle Park College with industry experts as guest speakers.

“Social media is
something not all adults are experts in and parents often feel helpless if their
child is being targeted. I will be hosting a local information event where
experts from Facebook and Webwise will be among those explaining the best way to
protect your children and teenagers from cyber-bullying. If you are a parent or
you work with, children or teenagers then this is an event for you. Experts from
Facebook and Webwise will be going through tips, information and best practice
advice on protecting children and young people online,” explained
Fitzgerald.

“Unfortunately,
cyber bullying is becoming a more familiar phrase to us all. To simplify it it’s
a form of aggressive and harassing messaging carried out online or through text
message. It isn’t always as straight forward as the sending of intimating
messages and can also take the form of impersonation, for example setting up
social media accounts in the name of others. Like any form of bullying its
destructive and can have huge consequences on confidence, on self esteem and on
capacity to learn. Research commissioned by my Department shows that 24%
of 9 to 17 year olds report being bullied, this is something that requires whole
of school and whole of community action. The Delete Cyber Bullying Event’s I’m
hosting in Clondalkin and Lucan next will be an opportunity to inform and
empower parents, teachers, youth workers and indeed teenagers themselves,”
concluded Minister Frances Fitzgerald.

The Lucan event will take
place in St Joseph’s College, Tuesday March 5th at 8pn with the
Clondalkin information evening being held in Moyle Park Community College, Thursday 7th March at 8pm.